Oven door seal



Aug 6, 1946. J. F. HENNESSY ETAL OVEN DOOR SEAL Filqd may 24, 1945 Patented Aug. 6, 1946 FlCE OVEN DOOR SEAL John F. Hennessy, Denver, 0010., and John I. Thulander, Chicago, 111., assignors to Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,262. Divided and this application May 24, 1943, Serial No. 488,119

11 Claims.

1 This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 365,262, filed November 12, 1940, which resulted in Patent No. 2,339,398, issued January 18, 1944.

' This invention relates to the doors of ovens for domestic cooking ranges and is particularly concerned with improved sealing means therefor.

The principal object of our invention is to provide oven door seals designed to have wiping contact with the outer peripheries of the doors in the closing thereof, whereby to give assurance of mor complete sealing than is possible Where the sealing action relies for its effectiveness upon the compression of sealing means between the inner faces of the doors and the stove front, such seals obviously necessitating fairly accurate alignment of all of the parts involved, such as is not usually obtainable in the quantity production of ranges.

Still another important object consists in the provision of door seals for domestic cooking ranges, the application of which to the range involves a minimum of special construction of the range, the strips being applicable to certain existing ranges with little or no change in the construction of the doors or front structure.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a gas range equipped with door seals provided'in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail of the middle vertical sealing strip taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first mainly to Fig. l, the reference numeral '1 designates a domestic gas range, although, of course, the door seals of our invention are applicable to the oven doors of domestic cooking ranges generally. 8 is the cooking top of the range, and is the panel closing the front of the burner box compartment it] under the cooking top. The gas burners for the cooking top are not shown, but have the cocks thereof controlled by knobs 11, and at 12 are indicated the drip pans provided in the bottom of the burner box compartment. At 13 and 14 are indicated the baking ovens, for which the doors 15 and 16 form closures, these doors being mounted on hinges 1'1 to swing downwardly to substantially horizontal open positions. At 18 and 19 are indicated closures for the compartments 2i! and 21 beneath the ovens 1'3 and 14, respectively. Usually one of these compartments has a broiler drawer therein, in which event the closure 18 or 19, as the case may be, forms the hinged front on said drawer. The burners for the ovens 13 and 1d are provided under the oven bottoms 22 in the upper portions,

of the compartments 2!! and 21. Where there were no seals for the oven doors 15 and 16, the operating efficiency of the ovens was not as high as desired, due to the heat losses around the doors, and, of course, this heat loss became a more noteworthy objection when the ovens were insulated, as herein illustrated. The seepage around the doors also had a tendency to discolor the range front, or at any rate necessitate more frequent cleaning than would otherwise be necessary. In the application of seals to the oven doors 15 and 16, it also is desirable to provide seals at least around the sides and tops of the closures 18, and 19 to cut down heat losses and accordingly further increase the over-all efiiciency, no seals being necessary along the bottoms of these closures, inasmuch as the bottoms of the compartments 2i and 21 are provided with opening to admit air to support combustion at the burners as well as to mix with the gas delivered to the burners to form combustible mixtures. We have, therefore, provided three vertically extending sealing strips, 23, 24, and 25, and three horizontally extending sealing strips 26, 2'1, and 28, to seal all four edges of each of the oven doors 15 and 16 and only the upper edges and lateral edges of the doors or closures 18 and 19, whereby effectively to prevent seepage from the ovens 13 and 1 1 and at the same time greatly reduce heat losses from the compartments 211 and 21 without interfering with the adequate supply of air to the oven burners. Strips'23 and 24 reach from the bottom of the compartment 21! to the top of the oven 13, and the strips 24 and 25 bear the same relation to the compartment 21 and oven H1 above the same. The strip 26 extends the full width of the two ovens l3 and 14, whereas the strips 2'1 and 28 are individual to the two ovens and the compartments therebeneath, the strip 27 extending between strips 23 and 24 and the strip 28 extending between strips 24 and 25. The general arrangement of the strips 23-28 forms the subject matter of another copending application, Serial No. 488,118, filed May 24, 1943. All of these strips 23-28, as hereinafter more clearly appears, cooperate with the outer peripheries of the oven doors 15 and'lB and doors or closures i8 and is, having wiping contact therewith for sealing purposes.

fhe oven doors l5 and i6 each comprise an outer porcelain enameled panel 29, the marginal flange 39 of which has a telescoping fit over the marginal flange 3! of an inner porcelain enameled panel 32, the space between the panels 29 and 32 being filled with insulating material, as indicated at 33. The doors or closures l8 and 19 are similarly constructed. The flanges 39 define the outer peripheries of the doors l5, l5, l8, and it, and are fiat and smooth and, therefore, adapted for good wiping sealing contact With the sealing strips 23-28. All of these strips have generally c-shaped sections arranged to be compressed by contact with the edges of the doors as they are closed, as indicated at 24a, 25a, 25a, and 28a, it being understood that the portion 23:: of the strip 23 is like the portion 25a of the strip 25 and that the portion 21a of the strip 2'! is like the portion 28a of the strip 28.

The strips 23, 25, and 26 are all substantially s-shaped in cross-section and are adapted to be mounted by a half-portion that is substantially C-jshaped and to be retained by spring clips 38, as fully, described and claimed in the parent application.

The strips 24, 2?, and 28 are all adapted to be secured in place in a similar manner, namely, by

means of sheet metal strips 43 of L-shaped crosssection, each of the strips 24, 21., and 28 being of generally P-shaped cross-section, the loop of the letter P being C-shaped, as indicated at 24c and 28a in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, to receive the one leg 43a of, the strips 48, while the leg of the letter .,..i

P, indicated at 2417 and 28b, is engaged by the other leg 48b of the L-shaped strips 13 for anchorage of the strips 25, 2?, and 28 to the front of the range. Thus the L-shaped strip 48 cooperating with the sealing strip 24 is fastened by screws 49 to the vertical parting rail 5% formin a portion of the front frame of the range, a front corner rail 5! of which also appears in Fig. 2. The strip 48 is slotted, as indicated at 52, to facilitate entry under the. heads of thescrews' 49. is held against lateral displacement with respect to the strip 48 by means fof the beaded edge 53 which engages the edge of the leg 43?) of the strip 63.. The leg 48b is widened only at the points where itis anchored by the screws 58, and at, those points the bead 53 is cut away to permit extension of said portions beyond the bead. However, the strips 35 provided in connection with the sealing strips 127 and 28 can be of uniform width throughout the length thereof, there being no need for the provision of any bead 43 on the sealing strips 21 and 2B. Screws 54 are shown fastening the strips 48 to the horizontal parting rails 55 that also form parts of the front frame of the range along with the rail 56 and corner posts 5|. The strips 21 and 28 and their fasteningv strips 435 preferably have registering open- The strip 25 ings 55 provided therein, as indicated in Fig. 3,

in register with the lower portions of the horizontal channels 5": provided in the parting rails 55', whereby to permit drainage of condensation that is apt to collect behind the strips 2'! and 25, especially inthe preheating of the ovens. Where no provision is made for the drainage of condensation, there is likelihood of the parts rusting.

4 doors, this provision for drainage of the condensation is considered desirable if not absolutely essential.

It should be clear from the foregoing description that we have provided simple and inexpensive sealing strips, which by wiping contact with the outer peripheries of the doors and compression in the closing of the doors effectively seal the ovens against the objectionable seepage and heat losses around the doors, thus protecting the porcelain enameled front panels against discoloration and avoiding the necessity for so much attention in the way of cleaning to keep the same presentable. It is also clear that the application of the sealing strips 23-28 in the manner herein disclosed requires little or no change in the construction of the range otherwise. The effectiveness of the sealing action is furthermore not dependent upon close accuracy in the alignment of the various parts going to make up the range front, there being easily enough yield in the resilient compressible and expansible sealing strips 23-28 to compensate for whatever irregularities may occur in the spacing of parts involved in the sealing action.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim: 7 i

1. The combination of a frame, closures thereon having the edge portions thereof in closely spaced substantially parallel relation, and a spring metal sealing strip comprising an attaching portion secured to the frame behind said closures, a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally O-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly toward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the closures and compressed by engagement of'said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, and a relativel'y'rigid supporting strip ofgenerall'y L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying theattaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into the C-shaped sealing portion to support the latter for compression of either side portion more or less independently of the other side portion by engagement therewith of either of the closures.

2. The combination of a frame, a closure and a panel thereon having the edge portions thereof in closely spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, and a spring metal sealing strip comprising an attaching portion secured to the frame, havingv a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally C-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion. of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly toward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the panel and closure and compressed by engagementof said edge ortions with'the opposite-sides thereof, and a relatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into engagement with the inner side of the bend at the juncture of the longitudinal edge portions of the C-shaped sealing portion to support the latter for compression of either longi-,

tudinal edge portion more or less independently of the other longitudinal edge portion by engagement thereof between said panel and closure.

3. The combination of a frame, closures thereon having the edge portions thereof in closely spaced substantially parallel relation, and a spring metal sealing strip comprising'an attaching portion secured to the frame behindsaid closures, a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally C-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly toward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the closures and compressed by engagement of said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, and a relatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L 7 tioned leg of the L-shaped supporting strip,

whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the attaching portion of said sealing strip relative to the supporting strip.

4. The combination of a frame, a closure and a panel thereon having the edge portions thereof in closely spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, and a spring metal sealing strip comprising an attaching portion secured to the frame, having a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally G-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly toward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the panel and closure and compressed by engagement of said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, and a relatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with itto the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into the C-shaped sealing portion, the free edge portion of the attaching portion of said sealing strip having a bead formed thereon projecting outwardly relative to the frame alongside the longitudinal edge portion of the first mentioned leg of the L-shaped supporting strip, whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the attaching portion of said sealing strip relative to the supporting strip.

5. The combination of a frame, closures therewhereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly,

toward the frame, said sealing portion being disiposed between the edge portions of the closures and compressed by engagement of said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, and a relatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped.

section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into the C-shaped sealing portion for lateral support thereof.

6. The combination of a frame, closures thereon having the horizontal edge portions thereof in closely spaced substantially parallel relation, and a generally horizontally dis-posed spring metal sealing strip comprising an attaching portion secured to the frame behind said closures, and a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the longitudinal upper edge of said attaching portion and of generally C-shaped section, one

longitudinal edge of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardlytoward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the closures and compressed by engagementof said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, that portion of the frame supporting said sealing strip defining therewith a channel behind the attaching portion of the strip and below the upper one of said closures arrangedto catch moisture draining from the inner side of said upper closure, the attaching portion of said sealing strip having one Or more drain openings provided therein communicating with the bottom of said moisture collecting channel.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 6, including a relatively rigid, supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into the C-shaped sealing portion, the first mentioned leg of said L-shaped supporting strip having one or more openings provided therein in register with the openings in the attaching porsection, one longitudinal edge of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the'other edge of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped. section opens rearwardly toward the frame, said sealing portion being disposed between the edge portions of the closure and panel and compressed by engagement of said edge portions with the opposite sides thereof, that portion of the frame supporting said sealing.strip defining therewith a channel behind the attaching portion of the strip and below the upper one of said closure and panel arranged to catch moisture draining from the inner side thereof, the attaching portion of said sealing strip having one or more drain openings provided therein communicating with the bottom of said moisture collecting channel.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8, includin arelatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame into the C-shaped sealing portion, the first mentioned leg of said L -shapedsupporting strip having one or more openings provided therein in register with the openings in the attaching portion of said sealing strip.

10. A sealing strip adapted for use between a closure member and a frame member comprising a sealing strip having an attaching portion adapted to be secured to the frame member, and having a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally C-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly rigid. supporting strip of generally 'L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame member into engagement with the inner side of the bend at the juncture of the longitudinal edge portions of the Cshaped sealing portion to provide lateral support for said longitudinal edge portions in the compression thereof by the closure member.

11. A sealing strip adapted for use between a closure member and a frame member comprising a sealing strip having an attaching portion adapted to be secured to the frame member, and a longitudinally extending compressible sealing portion in substantially right angle relation to the attaching portion and of generally C-shaped section, one longitudinal edge portion of which is rigid with the attaching portion and the other edge portion of which is freely movable toward and away from the first edge portion, whereby the C-shaped section opens rearwardly toward the frame member, said sealing portion being toward the frame member, said sealing i ortion being disposed for wiping engagement with and compression by one of said longitudinal edge por tions of the closure member, and a relatively disposed for wiping engagement with and compression by the edge portion of the closure member, and a relatively rigid supporting strip of generally L-shaped section having one leg of the L overlying the attaching portion of said sealing strip and. secured with it to the frame and the other leg of the L projecting forwardly from the frame member into the C-shaped sealing portion to provide lateral support for the latter in the compression thereof by the closure member,

., the free edge portion of the attaching portion of said sealing strip having a bead formed thereon projecting outwardly relative to the frame member alongside the longitudinal edge portion of the first mentioned leg of the L-shaped supporting strip whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the attaching portion of said sealing strip relative to the supporting strip.

JOHN F. HENNESSY.

JOHN I. THULANDER. 

